Houses

A Brief Introduction to Astrology

1st House (Ascendant) – The individual personality

Together with the Sun and Moon the ascendant is one of the most important
single factors in a horoscope. The sign at the beginning of the first
house tells us a lot about someone's personality, temperament and constitution.
It typifies our immediate, instinctive reaction and shows how we present
ourselves to the world. The planet ruling the ascendant sign is of particular
importance for the interpretation.

2nd House – Values and Possessions

The second house and its occupants tell us about the material circumstances,
the acquisitive urge and how we deal with possessions and material means.
This includes the relationship to our own body.

3rd House – Communication

The third house and any planets occupying it tell us of our siblings,
the manner in which we communicate on an everyday level and the relationships
which determine our daily life.

4th House – Roots and Origins

This house describes our origins, the parental home and the circumstances
influencing childhood and youth. It describes how we relate to “family”,
our attitude towards “hearth and home”. The father image and
the relationship to the real father are also to be found here.

5th House – Pleasure and Creativity

Sexuality and eroticism are at home here, along with play in general and
all types of creative expression. This house also describes how we relate
to children, pleasure and simple fun.

6th House – Work and Routine

The sixth house describes the circumstances surrounding us in our daily
lives, including the work environment and daily routine. This includes
our behaviour towards subordinates. Bodily hygiene and care also belong
here, as well as tendencies to certain acquired illnesses.

7th House – Relating

The descendant sign and planets occupying the seventh house tell us about
how we select our partners and describes the partnerships and relationships
we seek. Often we are involuntarily attracted to people whose horoscopes
carry a strong emphasis of the sign in our seventh house.

8th House – Loss and Common Property

The eighth house shows how we relate to communal goods and how we deal
with material loss. The taxes levied on us each year are a good example
for this and show how closely related these areas are. Traditional astrology
maintains that this house has an affinity to death and all things metaphysical.
Death would then be the ultimate material loss. Amongst other things,
the study of metaphysics can be a very differentiated way of dealing with
this loss, which inevitably comes to us all.

9th House – Philosophies and Far Countries

The ninth house describes our spiritual leaning, life philosophy and our
world view. In fact, these are often influenced by journeys to foreign
countries. The attitudes cultivated and formed in this house can greatly
influence matters of the 10th. (see below)

10th House (MC) – Occupation and Calling

This house is of particular importance, since it affects not only our
choice of profession and our sense of calling - it also has a bearing on
our general development, what we become. This continues throughout our lives.
According to tradition, as well as more recent experience, this house
describes the mother image and the relationship to the real mother.

11th House – Friends and Acquaintances

The eleventh house describes how we relate to friends, benefactors and
teachers - people who wish us well or from whom we can learn. It also shows
us in these roles. This house shows how we relate to the society in which
we live.

12th House – Beyond the Personal

This house represents those spheres of life in which the individual no
longer plays a part, where we step back for a greater whole or lose ourselves
in one. Traditional astrology sees hospitals, prisons and psychiatric
institutions in this house. It is also associated with monasteries and
any other retreats.

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